Kiff

Biography

San Francisco based Kiff is a singer-song writer and pianist whose music is captivating audiences around the nation. His music is a delightful mix of pop, rock, funk and soul with radio-ripe vocals, rich harmonies, and catchy melodies. It is classic hook driven pop song writing at is best that comes alive with Kiff’s soulful voice. Critics compare Kiff to John Mayer, Michael McDonald, Jack Johnson, and Maroon 5. His first CD "Will and Surrender" was a top seller at CDbaby for months, and the single, "Wide Open" charted on Garageband's top 20, all-time, for best male vocals and best love song, out of more than 17,000 songs in Pop Rock. On his 2006 release titled “You Can't Keep It Down” Kiff is backed by studio veterans, Mark Needham (The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Chris Isaak) and Joe Chiccarelli (Elton John, U2, Beck). Reviewers are calling the new CD a "gem," "extraordinary," and "a minor masterpiece." The soulful tune "How it Feels" was featured on the WB's primetime comedy Pepper Dennis. An electric and captivating performer, he rocks crowds in San Francisco (Independent, Slim’s, Café du Nord, Sweetwater), NY (Joe’s Pub, Makor, Bitter End) and LA (Hotel Café, Temple Bar). With “raspy smooth” vocals, evocative songs and a charismatic stage presence, Kiff headlines sold-out shows and supports acts as diverse as Gavin DeGraw, Aqualung and Maktub.

Chris Gallagher, known by his nickname Kiff started playing the piano on his own as a teenager, picking out chord progressions and playing them for hours. Meanwhile he was experimenting with composition, writing a piece in six-part harmony for his high school a capella group. His diverse musical interests continued in college, where he joined a funk band, played in an African drumming group, and sang in a gospel choir. After graduation, Gallagher joined Bill Clinton's campaign for President; a year later he was in Washington. At night he fronted Funnybone, a hip-hop-acid jazz band that regularly packed DC clubs. He later moved to San Francisco, where he helped manage Odwalla juice company and then became the president of Social Venture Network - a national alliance of socially responsible businesses. But his deeper inspiration continued to be music...and he finally surrendered. In 2003, Chris "Kiff" Gallagher walked away from career in business and politics to write music. In less than a year he'd written, arranged, and produced Will and Surrender. Launching the indie CD on CDBaby and Garageband it quickly became a best seller and fan favorite. Over the next year, Kiff headlined in San Fransisco, New York, and L.A. In 2005, Gallagher has decided to honor his roots and take back his childhood name "Kiff" which he dropped in high schools. He second CD You Can't Keep It Down was "soft" released (to internet retailers and iTunes) by micro-indie PeaceLabs Records in January 2006. With more music to write and more tours to follow, Kiff Gallagher's story is still very much in progress.

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